UCLA and Virginia Tech seem barely in the same universe

It's no surprise the football teams at Virginia Tech and UCLA have some studying to do to get familiar about each other.

The schools' campuses are 2,400 miles apart, and the football teams compete against a subset of teams that are practically foreign to the other.

"They're kind of out of our orbit, although right now we just entered the same orbit, so that is going to change real quick," Bruins coach Jim Mora Jr. said.

The Hokies (8-4) and Bruins (9-3) will face off for the first time as football teams in the Sun Bowl on New Year's Eve. The game kicks off at 2 p.m. and will be televised by CBS.

Virginia Tech is making its 21st straight bowl appearance while UCLA is playing in a postseason game for the third straight year, the last two under Mora.

The Hokies have gained a reputation over the years for having a fan base that travels well come bowl season, but this game might put a strain on that credibility.

Sun Bowl Stadium is 1,700 miles from Lane Stadium, where Virginia Tech plays its home games.

What the bowl game has going for it in regard to the Hokies' fanbase is the fact Virginia Tech hasn't played in the game since 1947.

"There is a distance issue, but I would hope the matchup with a team such as UCLA, that's attractive," coach Frank Beamer said. "The bowl itself is attractive. I can remember watching this bowl over the years and seeing the stadium, and I think Virginia Tech played in 1947. I was born in 1946, so I was like three months old when we played there the first time.

"I'm very excited about being able to go to the Sun Bowl and playing a team such as a ranked UCLA, and to see a different part of the country, and to hopefully again solidify our reputation as a team that's going to travel well." Virginia Tech faces off against a Pac 12 opponent for only the fourth time in Beamer's 27 seasons as head coach. The Hokies lost the previous three games to California (52-49 in 2003 Insight Bowl), USC (24-13 in 2004) and Stanford (40-12 in 2011 Orange Bowl).

Beamer doesn't have much knowledge of UCLA, particularly this year's team, but that will change in the coming weeks.

Mora said he knows a lot about the traditions and history of Virginia Tech football program from his time as an NFL head coach and assistant. He said he made several trips to Virginia Tech's campus to scout players, and he coached some of the Hokies' all-time greats when they went to the NFL, from Michael Vick and Jim Druckenmiller to DeAngelo Hall and Jimmy Williams.

The Hokies boast the second-longest current bowl streak. No. 1 Florida State will play in its 32nd straight bowl when it takes on No. 2 Auburn in the BCS championship game.

Virginia Tech started the season 6-1 before losing three of its next four games. The Hokies closed out their season on a high note, however, by beating in-state rival Virginia for the 10th straight year.

UCLA, meanwhile, opened the season with five straight wins before losing consecutive road games to No. 5 Stanford and No. 10 Oregon.

The Bruins, who are making their fourth Sun Bowl appearance, won four of their final five games, including a season-ending victory over cross-town rival USC in Los Angeles.

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NCAAF Team Report - Virginia Tech - NOTES, QUOTES

--Virginia Tech QB Logan Thomas is the lifeblood of the Hokies' offense. His passing and rushing are essential to the success of the team. The senior has passed for 2,861 yards and 16 touchdowns, and is second on the team with 295 rushing yards and three scores. His running skill will be even more critical for Virginia Tech in the bowl game because of the absence of leading rusher Trey Edmunds, who will miss the game because of a broken leg. Thomas ranks third in the ACC in total offense per game (262.9), fourth in passing yards per game (238.4) and seventh in total touchdowns (20).

--Virginia Tech CB Kendall Fuller, a freshman, has been vital to the Hokies with older brother Kyle Fuller and Antone Exum missing significant time this season to injuries. Kendall Fuller, the ACC's defensive rookie of the year, leads the Hokies and ranks second in the ACC with six interceptions and he leads the ACC with 16 passes defended.

--Virginia Tech WR Demitri Knowles is starting to come into his own as a big-play threat offensively and in the kick return game. He has 43 catches for 619 yards and three touchdowns and is coming off a career game against Virginia, when he had 101 receiving yards. Knowles also ranks fourth in the ACC in kick return average.

--UCLA QB Brett Hundley, like QB Logan Thomas of Virginia Tech, Hundley is critical to every element of the Bruins' offense. He has completed 67.8 percent of his passes for 2,845 yards and 22 touchdowns, and leads the team with 587 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground. UCLA's offense begins and ends with Hundley, so stopping him will be imperative for the Hokies.